A man and woman climb a formation overlooking Lighthouse Rock at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the 1960s. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Transparencies, Texas Tourist Development Agency audiovisual material, 1991/077-32.

In 1923, Governor Pat Neff created the Texas State Parks Board thereby establishing the Texas State Parks system. Neff favored building parks for Texans who loved to travel, camp, and explore outdoors over the idea of preserving beautiful locales across Texas. Board members traveled around the state promoting the idea of a park system.

The board soon discovered that scenic spots for parks were not enough. To create parks, Texas needed more roads, trails, bridges, and lodgings. Quite simply, they needed money. Parks created in the 1920s received no state funding for development and upkeep. Efforts to expose Texans to the great outdoors grew in fits and starts. Then, in 1929, the Great Depression hit.

Created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) brought unprecedented growth to the Texas State Parks system in the 1930s and 1940s. This exhibit highlights the development of the Texas State Parks system, specifically the role of the CCC.

Setting Up Camp is created by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.